Author: Freddie Lloyd

The New York state Department of Health could save hundreds of millions of dollars if it had better oversight of enrollment in Medicaid and other public health plans, according to two audits released Thursday by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. His office said audits found thousands of instances where state Medicaid paid costs that another federally funded health care plan like the Essential Plan, New York’s basic health plan, or Medicare should have paid. The audits found state Medicaid could have saved up to $294.4 million in payments on medical services if 13,318 individuals who appeared qualified for Medicare had enrolled…

The North Carolina Maritime Museums — one each in Southport, Beaufort and Hatteras — will be closed Thursday, Aug. 31 to the public, staff and volunteers due to potential effects from Hurricane Idalia. While the storm is expected to be downgraded from its hurricane status before reaching the North Carolina coast, storm surge and wind remain a threat along the coast. The museums are being closed as a precautionary measure. The museums in Southport and Beaufort are expected to reopen on their regular schedules on Friday, however, conditions may necessitate an extended closure. Updates will be posted as needed to…

Goodman Gallery will open a new location in New York this autumn in a move to establish a more permanent presence for the South African gallery and their roster of artists in the US, as well as gain greater exposure to local media and curators, owner and director Liza Essers says. The new location on the Upper East Side, opening on 6 September—the week of The Armory Show in New York—adds to the gallery’s existing spaces in Johannesburg, Cape Town and London, where it expanded in 2019. Rather than a gallery space, the New York location will operate as an…

The US state of Georgia has officially declared October as the “Hindu Heritage Month” to acknowledge the contributions of the vibrant Hindu-American community in the state. In a proclamation, Governor Brian Kemp declared October as the ‘Hindu Heritage’ month. It said that the Hindu heritage will be celebrated by focusing on its culture and the diverse spiritual traditions rooted in India. “The vibrant Hindu American community has contributed tremendously to the vitality of the State of Georgia by enriching the lives of its citizens,” the proclamation dated August 23 read.CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America), a Hindu advocacy group…

Fewer than 90 days remain before the ribbon cutting for the new Food Bank of Delaware facility in Milford is set to take place. Despite that, the banks says that the fundraising finish line has not quite been met. That is why they have launched the Buy a Brick and Help Build Hope campaign, where donors can customize a brick to be placed in the front entry way. “This is more than just a building – it symbolizes hope for so many,” said Food Bank of Delaware President and CEO Cathy Kanefsky. “We do more than provide food, we provide…

The Chicago Air and Water Show is set to take center stage along the shores and skies of Lake Michigan next weekend, and the stars of the show will make their return after a five-year absence. According to the city, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be the co-headliners of the Air and Water Show, making their first appearance in Chicago since 2018. They will be joined by the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights for the show, which gets underway on Saturday. The Air and Water Show is scheduled to take place Saturday, Aug. 19 and Sunday, Aug. 20,…

The Department of Community Affairs issued grants to four school districts exploring regionalization, moving forward a long-held goal intended to reduce the costs of public education in New Jersey. The $470,000 in grants will go to fund regionalization feasibility studies in Belvidere and Hunterdon County’s Union Township school district, as well as in two regional high schools in Sussex and Gloucester counties. “We’ve seen firsthand the tremendous benefits that can result when neighboring towns and schools work together to share their resources and services. So, we are pleased that these school districts are taking the time to seriously research regionalization…

Invenergy and energyRe have submitted an offshore wind project bid for Leading Light Wind, the only American-led project in the New York Bight. New Jersey’s third competitive offshore wind solicitation represents a significant milestone toward achieving the state’s ambitious goal of 11 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2040. New Jersey has set a goal of reaching 100% clean energy by 2035. Leading Light Wind proposes to deliver up to 2,400 MW of clean energy to the state. The project will sit more than 40 miles off the coast and power up to one million New Jersey homes. It…

HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division authenticated the keel today for Virginia-class attack submarine Oklahoma (SSN 802). “We enjoy participating in Navy traditions like this one because they remind us of the important role we play in our nation’s defense,” NNS President Jennifer Boykin said. “The nuclear submarines we build help ensure our peace and freedoms, and we take great pride in being a nuclear shipyard.” The ship’s sponsor is Mary “Molly” Slavonic, an Oklahoma native. Slavonic has long supported both the state of Oklahoma and the Navy. She worked alongside her husband, former acting Under Secretary of the Navy…

Azerbaijan continues to attach great importance to cooperation with our neighbor and partner Georgia, the publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan in the social network “X” (“Twitter”) says, Trend reports. “We fully support the resolution of the conflict in Georgia based on sovereignty and territorial integrity of states within their internationally recognized borders”, the ministry noted. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia over the last year totaled $1.3 billion, which is an increase of 18.1 percent year-on-year ($1.1 billion in 2021). Azerbaijan’s share in overall Georgia’s trade in 2022 accounted for 6.9 percent. Of this, Azerbaijani…